Regional Ministers: Oral Questions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House what plans she has to bring forward proposals for regional ministers to respond to oral questions from hon. Members.

Helen Goodman: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 133W.

Written Questions

Bob Neill: To ask the Leader of the House if she will place in the Library a copy of the internal guidance given to civil servants and Ministers on the use of Ministerial Corrections; and in what cases an incorrect answer to a written Parliamentary Answer should be corrected via  (a) a Written Ministerial Statement and  (b) a Ministerial Correction.

Helen Goodman: A copy of the guidance requested was deposited in the Library to coincide with the written ministerial statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 18 October 2007 entitled "Corrections to the Official Report and publication of NDPB letters in Hansard".
	The guidance is also available on the Leader's office website:
	www.commonsleader.co.uk.

Road Traffic Offences

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) parking tickets and  (b) speeding fines were issued for vehicles used by his Department in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost to the public purse of those penalties was in each year.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office has no record of any fines being paid by the Department. It is the Department's policy not to pay parking ticket or speeding fines issued to staff while using its vehicles.
	We are aware that one fixed penalty was notice issued and the fine of £60 was paid by the driver.

Further Education: Autism

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what arrangements his Department  (a) has in place and  (b) will have in place if the Education and Skills Bill is enacted to ensure the continuity of education and skills services provided to children with autism and Asperger's Syndrome as they make the transition to adulthood.

David Lammy: This Government are committed to improving provision and services for children and young people on the Autistic Disorder Spectrum. My Department is working closely with the Learning and Skills Council to identify existing provision and what needs to be put in place to ensure high quality and sufficiency to ensure continuity. All Learning and Skills Council Regions have completed analyses to identify current provision for all learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and are developing plans for improving provision.
	We are also working closely with the Department of Health, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Work and Pensions on a raft of measures to improve provision and the transition to adulthood including those on the autistic disorder spectrum. These measures will anticipate the impact of changes needed over the next few years including the raising of the participation age as envisaged in the Education and Skills Bill.
	Measures include work on a common funding approach, plans for individual budgets, improved planning and commissioning and curriculum improvements. At the heart of these measures is greatly increased and effective partnership working as set out in the cross government strategy on learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities 'Progression through Partnership' published last year.
	A key partnership is the one we have established with the Autism Education Trust launched in November 2007 which will advise us on improvements needed in provision and work force development. We also expect to launch two key projects this year which will also feature autism—"Getting a Life" focusing on what works for people with learning disabilities and the "Transition Support Programme" part of Aiming High for Disabled People.

Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of people who have started training under Train to Gain successfully completed a course in the last period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Train to Gain is a service specifically designed to give employers access to the advice and support they need to help them identify and then meet the skills their businesses need to succeed. It was launched in April 2006. Up until November 2007, the latest period for which figures are available, the Train to Gain service reports that 317,010 people have started a programme of learning and 153,300 have thus far successfully completed their learning activity, including over 131,00 full level 2s. However it would be misleading to simply use these output measures to calculate a percentage or success rate because many learners are still working to complete their course and new people are starting learning programmes through Train to Gain every day. DIUS and LSC officials are working to establish a sound methodology to enable a true success rate to be derived once sufficient data has been collected. This will be published as soon as it becomes available.

Building Projects

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how the Commission defines building projects which are  (a) small works,  (b) minor works,  (c) standard contracts and  (d) other categories.

Nick Harvey: Building projects are defined as follows: less than £25,000—small works; £25,000 to £250,000—minor projects; greater than £250,000—major projects. All work is carried out under contracts. These are grouped as: lump sum contracts; consultants' commission contracts; term contracts; and jobbing contracts. Lump sum contracts are let with the main contractor for a specific project. Consultants' commissions may be let for a specific project, though it is more likely that a consultant from a framework agreement would be used. Framework agreements can be let for any of the types on contract mentioned and have been let so far mainly for consultancies such as project management, architecture, engineering and quantity surveying. Special term contracts are let for planned maintenance such as lifts or grounds maintenance. Measured term contracts are let for carrying out small electrical, mechanical or building works. Jobbing contracts are used for one-off small works.

Parliament Visitor Reception Building

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend West of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1246W on the Parliament Visitor Reception Building, how much of the additional cost is due to  (a) variations to the brief and  (b) contractors' additional preliminaries; when the contract was finally handed over to the House; and how many of the additional weeks required have been due to (i) contractors' delays, (ii) exceptional inclement weather and (iii) client requirements or delays.

Nick Harvey: The building was handed over to both Houses on 20 December 2007. A review is being undertaken on behalf of the House of Commons Commission on the management of the project. The review will include the issues raised by the hon. Member. Once the review has been considered by the Commission I will be able to comment further.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support the Government provide for families of service personnel who are on operational duty.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 4 February 2008
	The single services each maintain extensive welfare support networks for families which include welfare staff at unit level, service welfare agencies and specialist support organisations such as Families Federations. There are also online information portals, discussion forums and HIVE information centres. These are available at all times but retain a strong focus on providing support when the service person is deployed.
	The communication element of the Deployment Welfare Package and various allowances paid to deployed personnel also benefit families and allows them to keep in regular touch with the deployed family members. In addition, the immediate family of accompanied regular service personnel deployed on operations receive assisted travel to benefit from the support of other family members. The services publish handbooks, such as the army "Guide for Families of Regular Personnel Deployed on Operations", and make welfare funds available for commanders to deliver local solutions over and above what is routinely available. These include internet access, briefings and hardship grants.

Baha Mousa

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1403W, on Baha Mousa, if he will now  (a) make a public apology for the death of Baha Mousa in British custody and  (b) make a statement about the circumstances of Baha Mousa's death.

Des Browne: In my answer of 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1403W, I said that the death of Mr. Mousa was a matter of deep regret to the Ministry of Defence. As I explained in my written ministerial statement of 25 January 2008,  Official Report, column 66WS, the next step is to consider what form any future inquiry should take. I have agreed to receive representations from the legal representatives of Mr. Mousa's family and, I will make a further statement when a decision has been made.

Olympic Games 2012: Aldershot

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the re-scheduling of work at Aldershot military barracks for the British Olympic shooting team will effect the timescale for work to be carried out on other units and barracks.

Derek Twigg: The capital works being undertaken at Aldershot Garrison are not for the benefit of the British Olympic Association but for service personnel. The rescheduling of the programme for new single living accommodation means that the new accommodation will be available for use by soldiers some three months early. This work is already planned to be completed by 2012 and advancing it slightly will have no adverse effect on works at Aldershot, or elsewhere.

1 Carlton Gardens

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the official ministerial residence of 1 Carlton Gardens became unoccupied following the departure from it of the right hon. Member for Derby, South.

Meg Munn: 1 Carlton Gardens became unoccupied on 16 October 2007.

Afghanistan: Diplomatic Relations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he was informed in advance of the decision by the Afghan government to expel a British diplomat working for the UN and an Irish diplomat working for the EU.

Kim Howells: Michael Semple, an Irish national working for the EU, and Mervyn Patterson, a British national working for the UN, left Afghanistan on 27 December 2007, having been asked to do so 48 hours earlier by the Government of Afghanistan. The Afghan Foreign Minister held a meeting to inform a number of European embassies, including our embassy in Kabul, of this decision on 25 December 2007.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Afghan national drugs control strategy has changed since it was launched by President Karzai in January 2006; what the UK's current role in the strategy is; and whether Her Majesty's ambassador has observer status on the Afghan Cabinet Sub-Committee on Counter Narcotics.

Kim Howells: The UK funded a review of the Afghan Government's national drugs control strategy (NDCS) and the institutional framework supporting it in the summer of 2007. The review recommended a greater focus on implementation of the NDCS in the provinces. As a result, the Afghan Government has developed, with UK support, a new provincial strategy. It centres on giving provinces responsibility for devising their own counter-narcotics plans, in support of national counter-narcotics priorities. This provincial approach conforms to the NDCS and ensures counter narcotics will be better embedded into the full range of Afghan Government development and rule of law initiatives.
	The UK's role in the strategy is to support the Afghan Government implement its NDCS, and lobby for continued and increased international assistance. Our ambassador in Kabul has observer status on the Afghan Cabinet Sub-Committee on Counter Narcotics.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date he informed President Karzai or the Afghan government that Lord Ashdown was being considered for a role by NATO.

Kim Howells: The noble Lord, right hon. Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon was not proposed for any North Atlantic Treaty Organization role. He was proposed by the United States of America for appointment by the UN Secretary-General as his Special Representative in Afghanistan.

European Council: Government

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the order of procedure to be followed when the heads of government and the President of the European Council attend the same function; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Article 1(16)(6) of the Treaty of Lisbon sets out the broad role of the President of the European Council. There have not yet been discussions on the detail.

Falkland Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of  (a) UK relations with Argentina and  (b) the situation in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK values its relationship with Argentina as an important international partner. We have a close and productive relationship on a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including human rights, sustainable development and counter-proliferation. We are keen to establish a constructive relationship with the new Argentine Government on South Atlantic issues and believe we have much to gain from working together.
	However, the Argentine sovereignty claim to the Falkland Islands casts a shadow over the bilateral relationship. The UK has no doubts about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. We support the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination and will not discuss sovereignty unless and until they so wish. The UK has good relations with the Falkland Islands' Government, which has continued to develop and diversify its economy over recent years, particularly in the areas of fisheries, renewable energy and tourism. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Meg Munn, visited the Islands from 3 to 5 January and took the opportunity to assure the Falkland Islands Government of the Government's commitment to their self-determination and economic development.

New Deal For Long Term Unemployed

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the intensive activity period stage (self employment option) went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (1) two weeks, (2) three months, (3) six months and (4) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(2)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the intensive activity period stage (basic skills and employability training option) went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (1) two weeks, (2) three months, (3) six months and (4) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(3)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the intensive activity period stage (education and training opportunities option) went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support, (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (1) two weeks, (2) three months, (3) six months and (4) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(4)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the Intensive Activity Period stage (training option) went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (1) two weeks, (2) three months, (3) six months and (4) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(5)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the Intensive Activity Period stage (other option) went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits— incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (1) two weeks, (2) three months, (3) six months and (4) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(6)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the pre-gateway stage went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (i) two weeks, (ii) three months, (iii) six months and (iv) one year of leaving the programme for which information is available in each year since 1997;
	(7)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the gateway stage went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and (i) off benefits unknown destination within  (i) two weeks, (ii) three months, (iii) six months and (iv) one year of leaving the programme for which information is available in each year since 1997;
	(8)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the intensive activity period stage went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—jobseeker's allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (i) two weeks, (ii) three months, (iii) six months and (iv) one year of leaving the programme for which information is available in each year since 1997;
	(9)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the intensive activity period stage (work experience/placement option) went into  (a) employment,  (b) employment and benefits,  (c) benefits—job seekers allowance,  (d) benefits—income support,  (e) benefits—incapacity benefit,  (f) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit,  (g) benefits—other/unknown benefits,  (h) other known destination and  (i) off benefits unknown destination within (i) two weeks, (ii) three months, (iii) six months and (iv) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(10)  how many New Deal for 25 plus (ND25+) participants who left the ND25+ at the follow through stage whose last option was  (a) employment,  (b) basic skills and employability training,  (c) self-employment,  (d) education and training opportunities and  (e) work experience/placements went into (i) employment, (ii) employment and benefits, (iii) benefits—job seekers allowance, (iv) benefits—income support, (v) benefits—incapacity benefit, (vi) benefits—income support and incapacity benefit, (vii) benefits—other/unknown benefits, (viii) other known destination and (ix) off benefits unknown destination within (1) two weeks, (2) three months, (3) six months and (4) one year of leaving the programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: The available requested information has been placed in the Library.

New Deal Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) on-flow and origin,  (b) off-flow and destination and  (c) stock figures for people participating in (i) the New Deal for Over 50s, (ii) the New Deal for Lone Parents, (iii) the New Deal for Young People, (iv) the New Deal for over-25s, (v) the New Deal for Disabled People, (vi) the New Deal for Partners, (vii) Pathways to Work Pilot schemes, (viii) employment zones and (ix) Local Employment Partnerships were in each of the last 36 months for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 12 November 2007
	Local employment partnerships (LEPs) are not a programme in which people participate; they are an agreement between employers and Jobcentre Plus to work together to enable employers to recruit in ways which give a fair chance to applicants from the most disadvantaged groups of jobless people. Information on the on-flow and origin, off-flow and destination, and stock figures for people participating in LEPs is thus not available.
	The available remaining requested information has been placed in the Library.

Pension Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of savings disregard was when pension credit was first introduced; what its level was at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what its level would be if the disregard had been revised in line with  (a) prices and  (b) earnings.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 17 December 2007
	Pension credit was introduced in October 2003.
	The capital disregard at that time was £6,000 for a single pensioner or a pensioner couple and £10,000 for a pensioner living in a care home.
	Had the disregard been up rated by prices, the £6,000 capital disregard would now be set at £6,766 and the £10,000 disregard would be set at £11,277.
	Had the disregard been up-rated by earnings, the £6,000 capital disregard would be set at £7,012 and the £10,000 disregard would be set at £11,687.
	There is no requirement in social security legislation to review the value of the capital disregards in income-related benefits in the same way that there is for weekly benefit amounts. The capital disregards are not, therefore, routinely up-rated.
	At least 80 per cent. of pension credit recipients have less than £6,000 capital. So any changes would not benefit the majority of existing recipients or those currently eligible (around 80 per cent. of those eligible for pension credit also have capital below the current capital disregard.)
	 Notes:
	1. All figures are given in nominal terms.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest pound.
	3. The Earnings Index used is a three month (May to July) seasonally adjusted average of earnings for the whole economy including bonuses. The index is provided by the Office of National Statistics.
	4. The prices index used is the RPI September value, as it is the most up to date. The index is provided by the Office of National Statistics.

Climate Change: Finance

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been provided by his Department for programmes run by  (a) central Government,  (b) local authorities,  (c) other public bodies and  (d) non-governmental organisations to (i) mitigate and (ii) assist adaptation to climate change; and how much was spent on such programmes in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA has provided funding for various programmes run by central Government, local authorities, other public bodies and non-governmental organisations to mitigate and assist adaptation to climate change.
	I will arrange for full details of this funding in the House Libraries.

Flood Control: Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent from the public purse in dealing with  (a) flood recovery and  (b) repair of flood damage in Gloucestershire in 2007.

Phil Woolas: Communities and Local Government is leading co-ordination of the wider Government flood recovery effort to help communities return to normality following the flooding last summer. To date, £14.8 million has been awarded by various Government Departments to councils within Gloucestershire to support their recovery efforts.
	The Environment Agency's estimated annual spend in Gloucestershire on controlling development, flood warning and awareness, flood risk mapping, maintenance of flood defences and watercourses is £1.5 million. The Environment Agency has spent an estimated extra £400,000 in Gloucestershire since the summer floods of 2007 on flood recovery, data collection, watercourse maintenance and repairs to flood defence assets.

Floods

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place the Environment Agency's flood mapping data in the public domain for use without charge.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency's flood mapping data, which provides information on flood risk from rivers and the sea, is already publicly available on the internet. Additional flood mapping data and flood defence information is available from the Environment Agency in response to requests for access, subject to the Environment Agency's standard licence terms and conditions.

Genetics

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) reliability of genetic use restriction technologies as a biosafety tool.

Phil Woolas: In 2006 DEFRA published a study that reviewed the various technologies that might be used to achieve biological containment and be used as biosafety tools for crops. This study assessed the current state of play of  (a) the effectiveness and  (b) the reliability of genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs) as well as other containment technologies for potential use as biosafety tools. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) also provided advice on the findings of this report. Both the study and the ACRE advice are available on the DEFRA website.

Sulphur Dioxide: Pollution

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated volume of emissions of sulphur dioxide was in  (a) large combustion plants and  (b) total in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: Information on the total emissions of sulphur dioxide is held in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) and is publicly accessible via the NAEI's website. The latest year for which verified data is available is 2005, although 2006 data will be available shortly.
	Information on large combustion plant emissions have been derived from the pollution inventories managed by the relevant environment agencies.
	A summary table of the annual emissions data, in kilo tonnes, for 1997-2005 for sulphur dioxide is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Large combustion plant  Total 
			 1997 1,108 1,641 
			 1998 1,207 1,619 
			 1999 881 1,227 
			 2000 848 1,215 
			 2001 739 1,119 
			 2002 638 1,002 
			 2003 704 991 
			 2004 541 836 
			 2005 438 706

Waste Disposal: Domestic Wastes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1133W, on domestic wastes: waste disposal, whether the satisfaction survey that local authorities must carry out as part of best value performance indicators includes a requirement to assess public satisfaction with local authority waste collection services.

Joan Ruddock: There are three best value performance satisfaction indicators for waste:
	BVP190a—Satisfaction with household waste collection
	BVP190b—Satisfaction with waste recycling (local facilities)
	BVP190c—Satisfaction with waste disposal (local tips)
	The latest national results for public satisfaction with local government and its services with trends over time, by authority type and by region for each indicator are set out in the "Best Value User Satisfaction Survey 2006-07: General Survey National Report", that can be found on Communities and Local Government's website.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Wastes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the proposed household rubbish collection charge pilots will apply to composite hereditaments.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	Paragraph 1 of proposed schedule 2AA, that sets out the rules for the schemes, allows schemes to be applied to any domestic premises within the definition given in paragraph 16 of schedule 2AA. This definition of domestic premises includes composite hereditaments, as it covers any part of a building used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation.

Waste Disposal: Incinerators

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on  (a) the use of and  (b) planning for incinerators for the disposal of waste; and what his policy is on such facilities.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has regular discussions with Communities and Local Government (CLG) about a wide range of issues, including sustainable waste management. Decisions on planning for residual waste treatment rest with Local Authorities rather than central Government. It is also local authorities, in conjunction with the waste industry, that build waste facilities.
	The number of new incinerators built will depend on the technologies and scale of facilities chosen by local authorities. Guidance on planning for waste facilities is contained within Planning Policy Statement 10, published by CLG in July 2005.
	Recycling rates are growing fast, but there will always be some wastes that cannot be recycled. 11 per cent. of waste is currently incinerated in England, but an increase is likely to be needed to be able to meet landfill directive targets, despite big improvements in waste recycling and minimisation. Recovering energy from waste (including via incineration) offers a considerable climate change benefit compared to the alternative of landfill. This is primarily through avoided landfill methane emissions, with energy generated from the biodegradable fraction of waste also offsetting fossil fuel power generation.

Aviation: Finance

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the net economic benefit, as in paragraph 1.16 of the UK Air Passenger Demand and carbon dioxide Forecasts 2007, of new runways at  (a) Stansted and  (b) Heathrow would accrue to (i) UK and (ii) non-UK residents.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 31 January 2008
	The breakdown of the monetised costs and benefits from additional capacity at Heathrow and Stansted is given in tables 4.2 and 4.3 (p78-79) of "UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts" (published 2007). The following figures are drawn from these tables.
	
		
			  Breakdown of costs and benefits from additional airport capacity, Net Present Value (NPV), 2006 prices 
			  £ billion 
			   One additional runway at 
			   Stansted (2015)  Heathrow (2020) 
			 Generated users 15 9 
			 Existing users (1)— (1)— 
			 Freight users (1)— (1)— 
			 Producers 2 5 
			 Government 4 3 
			 Carbon -3 -5 
			 Noise (2)— (1)— 
			
			  Delay Reductions   
			 Users (2)— (2)— 
			 Carbon (2)— (2)— 
			
			 Total benefits 18 12 
			 Infrastructure costs 4 7 
			 Net benefit 14 5 
			 (1) A non-zero impact is estimated, but the result rounds to nought at zero decimal places.  (2) No impact has been estimated.   Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to zero decimal places.  2. Heathrow figures are based on "option 1" from the "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport" consultation document, and assume the midpoint of the range of infrastructure costs.  3. The base case for the Stansted option assumes no new runways, while the base case for the Heathrow option assumes an additional runway opens at Stansted in 2015. 
		
	
	The "generated users" benefit measures the benefit to extra passengers of additional capacity. The following table further breaks this down between UK and non-UK residents.
	
		
			  Breakdown of "generated user" benefits from additional airport capacity, NPV, 2006 prices 
			  £ billion 
			   Stansted  Heathrow 
			 UK resident 10 6 
			 Non-UK resident 5 3 
			 Total 15 9 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to zero decimal places.  2. Heathrow figures are based on "option 1" from the "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport" consultation document, and assume the midpoint of the range of infrastructure costs.  3. The base case for the Stansted option assumes no new runways, while the base case for the Heathrow option assumes an additional runway opens at Stansted in 2015.

Aviation: Fuels

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what price for aviation fuel  (a) for the period to 2030,  (b) for the period 2030 to 2050 and  (c) for the period 2050 to 2080 is used by her Department in calculating the economic benefits of new runways in its publication, UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts is assumed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 31 January 2008
	'UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts' (published 2007) reports the latest air passenger demand forecasts and economic benefits of additional airport capacity. It explains (page 88) that aviation fuel prices were projected by combining the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform projection of crude oil prices with the strong historical relationship between oil and aviation fuel prices.
	The following table shows the resulting projections of aviation fuel prices in 2030 (in 2004 prices).
	
		
			  Oil price scenario  Aviation fuel price, £/litre 
			 Low 0.11 
			 Central 0.22 
			 High 0.34 
		
	
	'UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts' also explains (page 48) that, after 2030, demand at each airport with spare capacity is projected to grow at the rate forecast for the five years prior to 2030. Demand at each airport is assumed to grow no further once its capacity is reached. This implicitly assumes oil and aviation fuel prices would be broadly constant after 2030.
	The report further shows that the resulting forecasts and economic benefits of additional airport capacity are robust to a range of sensitivity tests, including oil prices.

Aviation: Fuels

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent assumption of aviation fuel prices is in  (a) US dollars per barrel and  (b) pence per litre used by her Department in its calculations of costs.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 31 January 2008
	"UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts" (published 2007) reports the latest air passenger demand forecasts and economic benefits of additional airport capacity. It explains (page 88) that aviation fuel prices were projected by combining the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform projection of crude oil prices with the strong historical relationship between oil and aviation fuel prices.
	These projections were made during 2007 from the most recent complete annual outturn data available at the time, which was 2006. The 2006 aviation fuel price was assumed to be $0.53 per litre, or 28 pence per litre.
	"UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts" also shows that the forecasts and economic benefits of additional airport capacity it reports are robust to a range of sensitivity tests, including oil prices. The report is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/ukairdemandandco2forecasts/airpassdemandfullreport.pdf

Bus Services: Finance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the central government grant to Transport for London does not cover buses which cross the boundary into Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport is the main source of external funding for Transport for London (TfL) through the GLA Transport Grant. However, the GLA Act does not allow any conditions to be attached to this grant. The use of funding from Government is a matter for TfL and the Mayor.
	TfL can and does support many bus services which run into Hertfordshire and other counties.

Cycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to provide funding to complete the Sustrans network as part of the Government's cycling strategy.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State has just announced a new £140 million funding programme for cycling. Cycling England will be responsible for the detailed delivery and direction of it. There is a commitment set out in "A Sustainable Future for Cycling" to provide 250 links to schools, which will form part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) and to build other infrastructure, such as cycling routes to business parks, which are also likely to be a part of the NCN.
	In addition, there is a commitment to extend the successful Cycling Demonstration Towns programme by building on the success of the six existing locations with up to 10 new towns and cities and one large conurbation. We do not yet know how much hew cycling infrastructure these towns and cities will build, although doubtless some of it will take the form of extensions to the NCN.
	In addition, Sustrans was awarded £50 million in December 2007 from the 'Peoples Millions' lottery for their Connect2 programme. This will provide 79 separate projects to link communities to places they want to access and will in the main form part of the NCN. Local authorities will be match funding these projects, which will be largely from their local transport plan allocation from the Department, of which it is estimated English local authorities (outside London) will spend around £40 million on cycling in 2007-08.

Departmental Accountancy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what items of her Department's  (a) revenue and  (b) expenditure are uprated using (i) the consumer prices index, (ii) the retail prices index and (iii) other measures of inflation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A comprehensive answer, covering all items of expenditure and revenue within the Department, could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The majority of the Department's expenditure and revenue items are determined on an individual grant or contract basis, with each having their own terms and conditions.
	However, major items in the Department's accounts that are indexed linked include:
	For rail, the franchise subsidies/premiums and the Network Rail grant are both fixed in real prices, and are uplifted by reference to the retail prices index.
	The domestic capacity charge, paid to the London and continental railways to ensure that the high speed rail link is available for domestic services, is uprated in line with the RPI.
	The Highways Agency has granted a £60 million subordinated loan to Severn River Crossing plc. The loan is indexed by reference to the RPI and carries an interest rate of 6 per cent. per annum.
	The latest private finance initiative schemes entered into by the Highways Agency, under design, build, finance, operate (DBFO) arrangements, are uprated in line with RPI.
	Voluntary early retirement pension payments are uprated in line with RPI, where they fall under appropriate provisions of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Road Traffic Offences

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) parking tickets and  (b) speeding fines were issued for vehicles used by her Department in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost to the public purse of those penalties was in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies maintain the policy that road traffic violations such as parking tickets and speeding fines remain the responsibility of the individual and are not reimbursed from public resources. The main exception to this is the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) which pays parking tickets when they arise operationally in circumstances where the overriding security requirements necessarily dictate the choice of parking location.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) also pays parking fines under exceptional circumstance such as during court appearances.
	The following outlines the cost to the public purse for parking tickets in each of the last 10 complete financial years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1999-2000 2,610 
			 2000-01 1,820 
			 2001-02 2,760 
			 2002-03 4,900 
			 2003-04 7,570 
			 2004-05 5,610 
			 2005-06 7,500 
			 2006-07 5,990 
		
	
	Of these figures, VOSA contributed £30 towards one parking ticket in 2005-06 and £90 towards one parking ticket in 2006-07.
	All monetary values are rounded to the nearest £10.
	Complete records detailing the actual number of parking tickets and speeding fines issued for vehicles used by the Department in each of the last 10 years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Community Relations: Islam

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Islamic scholars are employed by her Department to advise on the Prevent strand of Project Contest.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not employ any Islamic scholars to advise on the Prevent strand of CONTEST.

Electronic Government

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the take-up rate has been of Government Connect by local authorities;
	(2)  what use her Department is making of Government Connect to share and transfer data with and to local authorities.

Parmjit Dhanda: Currently we have placed orders with Cable and Wireless for 111 connections for the Government Connect Secure Infrastructure (GCSx). This will provide GCSx services to 155 local authorities. This represents a local authority take up of 35 per cent. across England and Wales. In due course we plan to connect to all local authorities.
	The initial piloting work between Government and local authorities is on housing benefits (lead by DWP). We expect the work to provide valuable lessons for further cross-government development of Government Connect.

Floods: Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of funding allocated to Gloucestershire for  (a) flood recovery and  (b) the introduction of flood prevention measures has been drawn down.  [Official Report, 18 February 2008, Vol. 472, c. 1MC.]

John Healey: To date £14,844,900 has been awarded to councils within Gloucestershire to support their recovery from the floods last summer. This includes £2,632,000 in Flood Recovery Grant, paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government to the county's six district councils to support flood affected communities. It is for authorities in receipt of grant to decide how to use and distribute any funding locally.
	Flood affected local authorities have also been able to apply to Communities and Local Government for help through the Bellwin scheme which provides financial assistance to local authorities dealing with emergencies. Exceptionally, the terms of the present schemes, have been made more generous because of the circumstances of the recent floods. Gloucestershire county council received an interim payment of £1.1 million to help with its costs in clearing up after last summers floods and Gloucester city council received an interim payment of £114,000. Both may receive further payments once they submit final claims. Claims have also recently been received from Gloucestershire police, Worcester city council, Cheltenham borough council and Cotswold district council.
	Gloucestershire county council was allocated £1,007,900 from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
	The Department of Transport has agreed to provide Gloucestershire with £10,000,000 for the repairs required to local roads. Assessments are continuing and further funding is expected to be confirmed when that work is complete.
	The Environment Agency's estimated annual spend in Gloucestershire on controlling development, flood warning and awareness, flood risk mapping, maintenance of flood defences and watercourses is 1.5 million. They have spent an estimated extra £400,000 in Gloucestershire since the summer floods of 2007 on flood recovery, data collection, watercourse maintenance and repairs to flood defence assets.

Government Offices for the Regions: Manpower

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff work in the European Unit in each Government office for the regions.

Parmjit Dhanda: The latest figures available for the number of full-time equivalent staff working in the European units of each Government office are as set out in the following table. The figures are for the FTE numbers in December 2007, with the exception of GO north-east when the information is from November 2007. The range of staff numbers reflects the different sizes of the programmes managed.
	
		
			  G overnment office  FTEs 
			 North East 48.5 
			 North West 79.6 
			 Yorks and Humber 38.6 
			 West Midlands 30.3 
			 East Midlands 37.3 
			 East 24.8 
			 South East 21.9 
			 South West 48.5 
			 London 29.4 
			 Total 358.9

Greenbelt: Planning

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Homes and Communities Agency is planned to have powers to  (a) remove Green Belt planning protection and  (b) approve planning applications for development on Green Belt land.

Caroline Flint: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will not have planning powers as of right. However, on the rare occasions that the Secretary of State determines to designate an area she may also chose to confer powers on the HCA which could be exercised in relation to any green belt in that area.
	The scope of the HCA's powers in relation to green belt will depend upon which planning functions are conferred upon the HCA in the designation order.
	If the designation order confers development plan functions on the HCA, it would be able to propose alterations to green belt boundaries through the development plan preparation process. However, this would involve a detailed process including public consultation and scrutiny by an independent planning inspector.
	Where the HCA is given the power to determine planning applications, the HCA would be able to determine whether development should be allowed in the green belt. Any such decision will need to be taken in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise and in particular the HCA will have to decide whether the benefits of the proposed development would outweigh the harm it would cause.
	In either situation, the HCA would be subject to the same requirements as any other local planning authority in terms of complying with the strong protection policies in PPG2.

Homelessness

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much was given to local authorities for tackling homelessness in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what steps are being taken against local authorities who fail to meet departmental targets on reducing  (a) homelessness and  (b) the number of families residing in bed-and-breakfast accommodation;
	(3)  how many rough sleepers there were in Chorley borough in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  how much was allocated to Chorley borough council for tackling homelessness in each of the last five years; and how that funding has been spent.

Iain Wright: Revenue funding for local authority homelessness services is principally provided through revenue support grant which is unhypothecated. The Government additionally provide "homelessness grants" to support local housing authorities' strategies for tackling and preventing homelessness, including rough sleeping. Homelessness grants are also paid to support voluntary sector organisations tackling homelessness.
	The following table shows total allocations of homelessness grant, and allocations to Chorley borough council for each of the five years from 2003-04 to 2007-08.
	
		
			   Homelessness grant for local authorities and voluntary sector (£m)  Homelessness grant for Chorley borough council (£000) 
			 2007-08 74.0 30.0 
			 2006-07 67.0 23.0 
			 2005-06 59.5 23.0 
			 2004-05 60.6 23.0 
			 2003-04 70.9 30.8 
		
	
	On 5 December 2007, we announced homelessness grant funding of at least £150 million over the three years 2008-11 to continue to support local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to tackle and prevent homelessness in their area. This is the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services.
	In addition, £90 million capital funding has been made available to local authorities in 2005-08 to improve hostels and day centres used by rough sleepers to increase skills and training and to raise aspirations. A further £70 million capital funding is being made available in 2008-11 to build on the success of improving hostels and day centres.
	Chorley borough council carried out a rough sleeping count on 30 November 2007 and found no rough sleepers.
	We set a target for local authorities to end the use of B&B accommodation for families with children for more than six weeks under the homelessness legislation. This target was achieved by 31 March 2004. Since 1 April 2004, the effect of the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2003 is that local authorities are no longer able to discharge a duty to secure accommodation under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) by placing families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks. Authorities may be challenged by homeless households and their representatives in the courts if they fail to comply.
	Local authorities are on track to meet our challenging target of halving the number of households living in temporary accommodation provided under the homelessness legislation (down to 50,500) by 2010.
	In cases where local authorities may be experiencing difficulties in tackling homelessness and meeting the Government's temporary accommodation target, this Department has a team of specialist homelessness advisers available to provide support and guidance.

Homelessness: Young People

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the proportion of 16 to 25 year olds who were homeless in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by  (a) race,  (b) sex and  (c) sexual orientation.

Iain Wright: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected in respect of households rather than persons. The number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty, is not collected by specific ages, but data are provided by the age band into which the applicant falls, the first of which is those applicants who are aged between 16 and 24-years-old (all applicants must be 16 or over). These data are provided in Table 10 of our Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, which is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 10 December 2007 and contains data for the period July to September 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatisticsby/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Data by age band are not disaggregated further by race, gender, or sexuality. However, the total number of accepted households is disaggregated by (a) ethnicity and (b) gender. These breakdowns are also provided in the Statistical Release (Tables 2 and 10).

Local Authorities: Publications

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1146W, on local authorities: publications, if she will place in the Library a copy of the pamphlet pack.

John Healey: A copy of Combating Misinformation Fact cards for Local Authorities has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/combatingmisinformation.

Local Government Finance: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much government funding was allocated to Warrington borough council in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms in each of the last five years; and what the percentage increase in funding was in each such year (i) on each preceding year and (ii) taking 2000-01 as year one and 100 per cent.

John Healey: The central Government funding to Warrington borough council in each of the past five years in cash and real terms (at 2006-07 prices) and the percentage increase in funding in each such year on each preceding year and 2000-01 respectively is as follows.
	
		
			   £000  Percentage increase on preceding year  Percentage increase on 2000-01  Index  (2000-01 =100) 
			  Cash terms 
			 2002-03 137,423 4.1 11.8 111.8 
			 2003-04 161,542 17.6 31.4 131.4 
			 2004-05 167,085 3.4 35.9 135.9 
			 2005-06 177,286 6.1 44.2 144.2 
			 2006-07 188,825 6.5 53.6 153.6 
			  
			  Real terms (2006-07 prices) 
			 2002-03 152,636 0.9 5.9 105.9 
			 2003-04 174,372 14.2 20.9 120.9 
			 2004-05 175,509 0.7 21.7 121.7 
			 2005-06 182,372 3.9 26.5 126.5 
			 2006-07 188,825 3.5 31.0 131.0 
			  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns 
		
	
	The large difference between 2002-03 and 2003-04 is mainly due to the increase in revenue support grant and the introduction of Supporting People programme specific grant from 1 April 2003.
	Central Government funding is defined here as the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for councils' core services.
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	The real terms figures have been revalued for years 2002-03 to 2005-06 at 2006-07 prices using the latest HM Treasury GDP deflators.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.

Planning: Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of each of the responses from external organisations and individuals to the recent Planning White Paper consultation.

Caroline Flint: On 27 November we published the Government's response to consultation on the Planning White Paper. Alongside this report, we also published two detailed background papers: Background Paper A sets out: an analysis of the consultation responses and Background Paper B a summary of other comments received on the White Paper and a list of respondents to the Planning White Paper. All these documents are available on the CLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning>/planningpolicyimplementation/reformplanningsystem/planningwhitepaper
	However, copies of the individual responses to the Planning White Paper, as discussed in these publications, have not been placed in the Library because of the volume we received. They are available for inspection at Communities and Local Government.

Smoke Alarms

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government has taken to encourage more people to fit smoke alarms since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 4 February 2008
	The Government are committed to encouraging all households to have a working smoke alarm. My Department has invested £25 million over four years (2004-08) to provide fire and rescue services with capital grants to install smoke alarms in the most vulnerable homes. The long-standing Fire Kills media campaign has as its central focus the importance of working smoke alarms and is currently running a TV advertising campaign to raise levels of awareness.

Urban Areas: Sustainable Development

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are in place to prevent conflicts of interest arising following meetings and other contacts between her Ministers and officials and representatives of housebuilding companies seeking to build eco towns; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: At this stage in the process, my officials are working with colleagues in other Departments and agencies to undertake a cross-government review of the eco-towns expressions of interest. Where necessary, they have been contacting developers to seek clarification of information submitted in the expression of interest. They are also contacting local authorities in the relevant areas covered by proposed eco-town schemes. Following this, we will publish proposals for public consultation, involving local authorities, wider stakeholders and the public before the process is completed.
	When potential sites have been identified, they will be determined in the normal way under the Planning Acts, and as set out in the Eco-towns Prospectus, there may be circumstances where use of the New Towns Act might be used. I can assure the hon. Member that Ministers and officials will abide by the usual rules of propriety that relate to planning matters during this stage of the process.

Urban Areas: Sustainable Development

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings and other contacts have taken place between representatives of Eagle Star and her Ministers and officials in relation to eco towns over the course of the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what representations her Department has received from Co-operative Estates on the proposed development near Great Glen in Leicestershire; and what meetings have taken place between her Department and Co-operative Estates on the development;
	(2)  what recent representations her Department has received from QinetiQ on the proposed development near Throckmorton in Worcestershire; and what meetings have taken place between her Department and QinetiQ on the development;
	(3)  what recent representations her Department has received from Banks Developments on the proposed development near Cambois; and what meetings have taken place between her Department and Banks Developments on the development;
	(4)  what representations her Department has received from GMI Property on the proposed development near Selby in Yorkshire; and what meetings officials from her Department have had with GMI Property where the development has been discussed;
	(5)  what  (a) representations her Department has received from and  (b) meetings her Department's representatives have had with, representatives of Hallam Land Management and Commercial Estates Group in relation to the proposed development in Clifton Moor, Yorkshire.

Caroline Flint: As one of a number of housing initiatives under way the Government is considering eco-towns, and as part of this has sought expressions of interest from developers and local authorities. To reveal the details of recent meetings and representations from developers when this process is under way would have the potential to be detrimental to the process, and those that have put forward eco-towns proposals.

Disadvantaged

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what definition of multiple exclusion the Government uses; and what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of  (a) working age and  (b) older people who meet this definition;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of those defined as socially excluded who are  (a) children,  (b) adults under state pension age and  (c) adults over state pension age.

Phil Hope: There are a number of ways to measure exclusion. One method is to look at people or places that have a combination of linked problems, such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, bad health and family breakdown. Recent analysis by the Social Exclusion Task Force found that around 140,000 families with children (or 2 per cent. of all families with children) in Britain experienced five or more disadvantages in 2004.
	Previous work commissioned by the former Social Exclusion Unit found that approximately 1.86 million (or 5.2 per cent.) of working age adults in Britain experienced five or more disadvantages in 2003, down from 2.43 million (or 7 per cent.) in 1997. For pensioners this was 1.8 million people (or 16.8 per cent.), down from 2.37 million (or 23 per cent.) in 1997.
	The Social Exclusion Task Force is currently conducting work to update these figures and these will be available in the summer.

Cultural Heritage

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Government Ministers or other departmental appointees hold responsibilities for decisions relating to requests from foreign  (a) governments and  (b) cultural institutions relating to artefacts in the collections of British museums.

Margaret Hodge: It is a long-standing policy of successive Governments in the UK, that decisions relating to museum collections are for museum trustees to take and the Government do not intervene. The Secretary of State appoints some museum trustees but appointments are also made by the Prime Minister, Her Majesty the Queen and others.

Departmental Consultants

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultancy contracts his Department issued in each year since 2005; what the  (a) value,  (b) purpose and  (c) contractor was in each case; and whether the consultant's report is publicly available in each case.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  2005 
			  Consultants  Contract  Value (£)  Availability 
			 Opis Renewal Consulting Framework for NDPB reviews 66,900 Published on DCMS website 
			 Hedra PLC NDPB governance—drafting of good practice guidance 47,600 No published report. 
			 Pricewaterhouse- Coopers Sponsorship of British Library 24,000 Internal report 
			 KPMG Olympic Games cost validation 255,000 Internal report 
			 Ubiqus Summary of consultation exercise re: BBC charter review 38,500 Incorporated into final BBC review. Already public 
			 Verdus Public appointments advice 14,000 No report required. 
			 Rockpools Executive recruitment 30,000 No report required 
			 Pricewaterhouse- Coopers Assessment of fees of be charged by authorities under 2003 Licensing Act 29,500 Internal Report 
			 Precendent Development of DCMS e-communication strategy 27,400 Internal Report 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 
			  Consultants  Contract  Value (£)  Availability 
			 Frontier Economics Economic impact of DCMS cultural investment 55,000 Published on DCMS website 
			 Pricewaterhouse- Coopers Review of library standards 99,000 Used to produce consultation document published by MLA 
			 Deloitte Olympic programme assurance 50,000 Internal report 
			 Frontier Economics Live music impact study 42,700 Published on DCMS website 
			 Frontier Economics Creative industries analysis 50,000 Published on DCMS website 
			 BMG Preparation for digital switchover of residential and nursing care homes 40,000 Published on DCMS website 
			 Hedra IT consultancy support 71,000 Internal report 
			 Pricewaterhouse- Coopers Development of London 2012 sustainability plan 30,000  
			 Atisreal Property/estates advice 246,000 Internal report 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 
			  Consultants  Contract  Value (£)  Availability 
			 Odgers Ray and Berndston Executive search/recruitment for chair of ODA 35,000 No report 
			 Saxton Bamfylde Hever Recruitment of chair of English Heritage 36,000 No report 
			 Pricewaterhouse- Coopers Assessment of costs and benefits of World Heritage Site (UK) 69,000 Currently ongoing 
			 Deloitte Review of Olympic programme support unit 99,000 Internal report 
			 Deloitte Review of ICT security review and compliance 76,000 Internal report 
			 Ql Consulting Development of DCMS ICT strategy 16,200 Internal report 
			 Work Foundation Consultancy on creative economy programme Green Paper 49,000 Published on DCMS website 
			 Ql Consulting Security audit of business continuity planning 27,300 Internal report 
			 Stanton Marris DCMS board awayday strategy 24,000 Internal report 
			 TFG Expert advice of lessons learned from Sydney Olympics 80,000 Project ongoing 
			 OCR LLP Specialist advice on horserace betting levy 59,400 Internal report 
			 Deloitte DCMS transformation programme 126,000 Project ongoing 
			 Brian McMaster Review of excellence in the arts 30,000 Published on DCMS website 
			 University College London Scoping study into climate change 8,000 Project ongoing

Departmental Public Relations

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many external contracts his Department held with public relations companies in each of the last 10 years; and what the total cost of those contracts was.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department held no external contracts with public relations companies between 1998 and 2002, and therefore spent no money on this.
	The Department has two external contracts with public relations companies since 2002 one relating to the digital switchover campaign, aimed at increasing public awareness of digital switchover, and the other on a licensing campaign aimed at small businesses to increase awareness of the implications of the Licensing Act.
	The costs of those contracts are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Campaign  Spend (£) 
			 2004-05 Digital Switchover 117,500.05 
			 2005-06 Digital Switchover 258,500.00 
			 2005-06 Licensing Communications 36,648.25 
			 2006-07 Digital Switchover 84,600

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to ensure that those groups of people who are eligible for assistance from the digital television switchover help scheme will receive it.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 4 February 2008
	The Help Scheme will assist the over 75s and those with significant disabilities (including the blind or visually impaired) to convert to digital TV services.
	The Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007 allows the Department of Work and Pensions to share social security information with the BBC, and local authorities to disclose information from their registers of blind and partially sighted people. This will enable the Help Scheme contractor appointed by the BBC to identify people who are eligible for support and ensure that direct communications can be targeted to the right people.
	In addition to direct mailings to those identified as eligible, the Help Scheme contractor and Digital UK and will work through advertising campaigns, help lines, and local and community organisations to give further information and advice about the Scheme including eligibility.

Television

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what date he expects the BBC high definition television channel to be fully operational.

Andy Burnham: This is a matter for the BBC. The Trust will consider early this year the options for when the nine hour service can become available on Freeview. This work will link closely to the results of Ofcom's recent consultation, The Future of Digital Terrestrial Television.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The following table updates a previous answer given to the hon. Gentleman on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 218W, to give bonuses paid to staff by department/agency. Further to the previous answer, the table includes data for National Savings and Investments, OGC Buying Solutions and amended figures for the Office of Government Commerce:
	
		
			  Department/Agency  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 Debt Management Office 179,673 166,654 157,259 134,278 97,610 
			 Government Actuary's Department(1) 22,500 — — — — 
			 HM Revenue and Customs(2) 18,960,303 11,047,400 13,363,285 1,115,723 — 
			 HM Treasury 1,103,000 967,000 972,000 704,000 627,000 
			 National Savings and Investments(3) 362,434 350,292 — — — 
			 Office for National Statistics(2) 735,871 248,219 360,473 381,830; — 
			 Office of Government Commerce 322,727 282,264 168,250 153,000 123,200 
			 OGC Buying Solutions 383,457 357,584 325,024 307,581 277,062 
			 Royal Mint 4,802 40,073 22,258 10,752 0 
			 Valuation Office Agency 114,100 0 0 320,218 276,829 
			 Total 22,188,867 13,459,486 15,368,549 3,127,382 1,401,701 
			 (1) Data for the Government Actuary's Department is not available for the period 2002-03 to 2005-06. (2) Data for HM Revenue and Customs and the Office for National Statistics is not available for 2002-03. (3) Data for National Savings and Investments is not available for the period 2002-03 to 2004-05.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce fuel duty in remote and peripheral areas which are highly dependent upon private transport.

Angela Eagle: Fuel Duty policy is set as part of Chancellor's annual Budget decision-making process for consistent application across the United Kingdom and there are no plans to change this approach.
	The balance of factors includes the equitability of preferential rates' application between regions, the consistency of environmental signalling and the potential administrative burdens. These factors tend to weigh against the case for preferential rates of fuel duty for remote regions of the United Kingdom.

Far Eastern Investment Corporation

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Richard Branson's consortium for Northern Rock includes the Far Eastern Investment Corporation.

Angela Eagle: Details of the members of the Virgin Consortium can be found at the Virgin Money and Northern Rock plc. websites.

Northern Rock

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instigate an investigation into the sale of Northern Rock shares in relation to share price changes on the stock market.

Angela Eagle: The principal body responsible for the investigation of possible insider dealing and other market abuse is the Financial Services Authority which looks into any suspicious activity associated with significant stock price movements.

Opinion Leader Research

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts were awarded by his Department and the agencies for which it is responsible to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was  (a) the title and purpose,  (b) the cost to the public purse and  (c) the date of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Department or agency in each case.

Angela Eagle: Opinion Leader Research is an approved supplier of research and development services under a framework agreement awarded by HM Revenue and Customs and available for use by other Government Departments. The framework was awarded by using fair and open competition in accordance with the EU procurement directives. Ministers were not involved in the selection process for either the places on the framework agreement nor the individual contracts called-off from that
	agreement.
	For the Treasury's contracts with Opinion Leader Research, I refer to the answers given by the then Financial Secretary (John Healey) to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 4 December 2006,  Official Report, column 196W, and to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) on 18 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1495W.
	Since 1997, the Office for National Statistics has commissioned two research projects with Opinion Leader Research. The details of the projects are:
	1. Civil partnership registration—value £10,000 excluding VAT. The contract was awarded on 19 May 2005. This work was not tendered as it was within the threshold of the framework whereby competition is not required. The work was completed by 13 July 2005.
	2. Utilisation of content on National Statistics website—value £37,000 excluding VAT. The
	work was put out to tender on 25 May 2006. The contract was awarded on 12 June 2006 and the work was completed by 11 September 2006.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was created on the 18 April 2005 from the former departments of HM Customs & Excise and Inland Revenue.
	Spend for contracts awarded to Opinion Leader Research by the former Inland Revenue and since 2005 by HMRC totals £617,616 (excluding VAT). The data requested are in the following table.
	None of the other Chancellor's departments or agencies have had any contracts with Opinion Leader Research in the last three years. Information on contracts, if any, with Opinion Leader Research back to 1997 could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost due to changes of accounting systems in the intervening years.
	
		
			  Former Inland Revenue and HMRC contracts with Opinion Leader Research 
			  Project title  Year  Cost excluding VAT (£)  Date put to tender  Date awarded to OLR  Work carried out (contract start to final payment)  Completed and findings put to the Department 
			 CSPI employers 2002-03 31,843.00 August 2002 September 2002 September 202 to February 2003 February 2003 
			 Call-off contract (capital allowances tax law rewrite 2003-04 12,382.50 n/a (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Call-off contract (capital taxes) 2003-04 14,595.01 n/a (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 LBO CT customers (qualitative) 2003-04 and 2004-05 27,678.00 November 2003 February 2004 January 2004 to April 2004 (1)— 
			 Tax credit claimants and overpayments 2004-05 19,376.00 November 2004 November 2004 November 2004 to December 2004 January 2005 
			 Call-off contract—evolution 2004-05 50,925.01 n/a (1)— February 2005 to March 2005 (1)— 
			 Call-off contract—TLR/CM 2004-05 27,150.00 n/a January 2005 January 2005 to February 2005 (1)— 
			 Call-off contract—national minimum wage 2004-05 25,462.50 n/a (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Call-off contract (capital taxes) 2004-05 6,255.01 n/a (1)— April 2004 (1)— 
			 Solicitors practice in recording stamp duty land tax 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 56,450.00 November 2004 February 2005 February 2005 to June 2006 December 2006 
			 New taxpayers (research and evaluation to support PSA1) 2004-05.and 2005-06 92,057.00 August 2004 December 2004 December 2004 to October 2005 (1)— 
			 Agents and IR online services 2004-05 and 2005-06 57,400.00 November 2004 February 2005 February 2005 to October 2005 January 2006 
			 Student loans deduction 2004-05 40,945.00 n/k April 2004 (1)— (1)— 
			 Research in support of the review of HMRC links with medium sized business 2005-06 39,275.00 n/k May 2005 May 2005 to October 2005 December 2005 
			 Evaluation of working with the voluntary and community sector to promote take up of new tax credits among hard to reach groups 2005-06 and 2006-07 60,708.00 August 2005 September 2005 September 2005 to August 2006 May 2006 
			 Investigation of reporting of changes of circumstances and understanding of tax credits 2006-07 and 2007-08 55,213.50 October 2006 November 2006 November 2006 to July 2007 Report awaiting final quality assurance and sign off within the Department 
			  Total 617,715.53 
			 (1) Data not held centrally so could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Revenue and Customs: Recruitment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost has been of placing advertisements for HM Revenue and Custom's recruitment programme on the Google search engine.

Angela Eagle: A three month package was bought via HMRC's recruitment advertising provider at a cost of £9,000.
	The package has been particularly effective in attracting interest in HMRC's Graduate Development Programme; resulting in an increase in the normal number of applicants.

Revenue and Customs: Visits Abroad

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which overseas destinations were visited by HM Revenue and Customs staff in the last financial year; how many visits were made to each destination; and what the cost to the public purse was of visits to each destination.

Angela Eagle: New systems installed by HM Revenue and Customs in November 2006, advise that staff visited the following countries during the period 1 November 2006 to 31 March 2007. A small number of staff that are abroad for long periods may not be reflected in these numbers and could be included only at disproportionate cost. An analysis of the costs between countries visited could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I refer to the answer given to your written parliamentary question in September 2007 (HMT Ref: 4555W 06/07). The cost of travel and hotels for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on travel abroad in the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was £1,949,181.
	
		
			   Number of visits 
			 United Arab Emirates 33 
			 Afghanistan 6 
			 Anguilla 1 
			 Austria 8 
			 Australia 10 
			 Belgium 335 
			 Bulgaria 27 
			 Bahrain 1 
			 Brazil 6 
			 Canada 7 
			 Switzerland 5 
			 China 5 
			 Serbia/Monten 2 
			 Cyprus 2 
			 Czech Republic 2 
			 Germany 43 
			 Denmark 14 
			 Spain 31 
			 Finland 7 
			 France 403 
			 Ghana 20 
			 Gibraltar 1 
			 Hong Kong 1 
			 Croatia 5 
			 Hungary 16 
			 Indonesia 1 
			 Ireland 61 
			 India, Sikkim prov. 4 
			 Italy 14 
			 Jamaica 5 
			 Japan 4 
			 South Korea 1 
			 Kuwait 1 
			 Kazakhstan 1 
			 St. Lucia 1 
			 Sri Lanka 2 
			 Lithuania 6 
			 Luxemburg 29 
			 Latvia 1 
			 Malta 18 
			 Malaysia 4 
			 Mozambique 1 
			 Netherlands 90 
			 Norway 3 
			 New Zealand 2 
			 Peru 3 
			 Pakistan 5 
			 Poland 27 
			 Portugal 24 
			 Romania 32 
			 Sweden 11 
			 Slovenia 3 
			 Slovakia 1 
			 Turksh Caicosin 1 
			 Turkey 10 
			 USA 10 
			 Uzbekistan 3 
			 Venezuela 2 
			 Vietnam 3 
			 Vanuatu 1 
			 Yemen 1 
			 South Africa 2 
			 Total 1,379

Taxation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of level of compliance with tax regulations in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: There is no current assessment of the level of compliance with all tax regulations.
	Two key obligations are:
	to file returns on time; and
	to submit correct returns and pay the right amount of tax.
	 Filing
	The percentage of self-assessment returns filed on time are published in HMRC's annual reports, which are available at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk.
	For corporation tax returns, no figures are available prior to 2003-04, and the 2006-07 figure is not yet finalised.
	 Estimates of losses
	HMRC have made estimates of the level of indirect tax losses since 2001. The most recent estimates are available in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses 2007, published alongside pre-Budget report 2007. These cover VAT losses for 2001-02 to 2006-07, and excise losses from 2001-02 to 2005-06. HMRC also published Developing Methodologies for Measuring Direct Tax Losses at this time. This includes estimates of direct tax losses for individuals subject to income tax self-assessment (2001-02 to 2002-03), small and medium-sized companies (2001-02 to 2003-04) and small and medium-sized employers (2003-04).

Taxation: Gambling

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which gambling products are subject to more than one ad valorem tax rate; and for what reasons in each case.

Angela Eagle: Gambling products are subject to a range of different taxes. In some circumstances, bingo is subject to more than one ad valorem tax. Bingo in a licensed premises is subject to bingo duty at 15 per cent. on gross profits and most participation fees for such bingo are subject to VAT at the standard rate. All gambling industries are also subject to the usual taxes imposed on business. The average effective tax rate on Bingo is not out of line with rates on other forms of gambling.
	The Government consider all relevant factors when establishing and maintaining fair regimes for the gambling taxes.

Working Tax Credit

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families were  (a) eligible for and  (b) receiving the childcare element of the working tax credit in each quarter of the last five years for which data is available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 916W.

Patient Satisfaction

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Health What recent research he has commissioned on patient satisfaction with treatment in NHS hospitals.

Ann Keen: The Government have one of the world's most comprehensive programmes of patient experience surveys, including the national patient survey programme and Choice survey. This research tells us what people think about the care and treatment they have experienced, and is an essential part of improving services.

Prescription Drugs: Internet Sales

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to curtail sales from overseas of prescription drugs via the internet; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Prescription medicines purchased from overseas internet websites, cannot be guaranteed for their safety, quality and efficacy.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regularly issues warnings about the potential risks involved and, although overseas websites fall outside UK jurisdiction, will take action against illegal sites hosted in the UK.

Frenchay Hospital

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on journey times to accident and emergency departments for South Gloucestershire residents of the proposed changes at Frenchay Hospital.

Ben Bradshaw: Decisions about the services are best taken locally The Bristol changes have been supported by all of the local health trusts. Three separate assessments of journey times have been undertaken locally in the area, and these have been taken into account by the local health service in making its decision.

Sexually-transmitted Diseases

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of sexually-transmitted diseases among under 18-year-olds.

Dawn Primarolo: There were 48,389 new diagnoses of the five main sexually-transmitted infections in those aged 19 and under (the age band recorded by the Health Protection Agency) in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) in England in 2006. Reasons for this are complex but include behavioural and biological risk factors.
	Tackling the prevalence of sexually-transmitted infections is a top priority. We are making excellent progress towards offering people an appointment at a GUM clinic within 48 hours, established the national Chlamydia screening programme, and launched an innovative media campaign aimed at those at highest risk.

Social Care

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the findings of the Review of Social Care Funding Group.

Ivan Lewis: The Commission for Social Care Inspection published its annual report on 30 January 2008, a copy has been placed in the Library. The report expressed concerns about the way in which local authorities were reducing care to older and disabled people who they had deemed not eligible for support. In my response to this report, which I set before Parliament, in the written ministerial statement of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 15WS. I requested the Commission to undertake a fundamental review of the content and application of eligibility criteria. The Commission have agreed to report back to me by the autumn of this year.

NHS Dentistry

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on access to NHS dental services.

Ann Keen: The most recent data shows 27.9 million people in England saw an NHS dentist during the two years ending 30 June 2007.
	We are committed to improving access to NHS services. We have increased central funding by 11 per cent. for 2008-09, and are requiring the NHS, through the operating framework, to increase the number of patients able to access NHS dentistry year on year.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to estimate the impact of the entry into force of the Licensing Act 2003 has had on numbers of admissions to hospital accident and emergency departments.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of patients attending accident and emergency for alcohol related harm is not collected centrally.

Community Care: Medical Equipment

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to assist NHS organisations to encourage patients with long-term conditions to monitor their own  (a) heart activity,  (b) blood pressure and  (c) lung capacity at home; what equipment is required to allow patients to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: holding answer 31 January 2008
	The Long Term Condition Whole System Demonstrators (WSDs), promised in the White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say, will explore the effectiveness of telehealth and telecare in supporting integrated care for those with heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes. There are three demonstrators in the programme located in Kent, Newham and Cornwall. The demonstrators will be robustly evaluated by a consortia of academic organisations in order to fully assess the business case for such service models.
	As part of the WSDs the vital signs of several thousand individuals will be measured over a period of at least a year. The vital signs that are measured will be determined on an individual basis following assessment and the development of a care plan. The monitoring of heart activity, blood pressure and lung capacity will be included in the options available to people within the WSD communities.
	The equipment needed to measure vital signs can be standalone e.g. a blood pressure monitor. However, within the WSDs we are testing the role of assistive technologies as part of an integrated health and social care system. The vital sign measurements will therefore be remotely monitored regularly by health professionals. Feedback and treatment regimes will be tailored based on these readings. To facilitate this the peripherals such as blood pressure monitors will be connected to a telehealth hub that is linked via a phone line or broadband to systems that are securely monitored by clinicians.
	In addition, the Department's telecare policy is set out in Building Telecare in England, which was published in July 2005. The Department provided 80 million of funding, through the Preventative Technology Grant, to support the mainstreaming of telecare services and to benefit up to 160,000 additional users. This policy will support people with a range of long term conditions with a number of localities investing in telehealth equipment to enable the monitoring of vital signs in the home.
	Further information will be made available as appropriate.

Departmental Board

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 711W, on the Departmental Board, whether the Customer Insight Unit referred to in paragraph 5.3 of the minutes of the meeting held in March 2007 has now been created; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper entitled Embedding the Customer.

Ben Bradshaw: An appointment to the post of Head of Customer Insight Unit was made in July 2007 and a small supporting team is in place. The Head of Customer Insight is also the Department's representative on the cross-government Customer Insight Forum.
	The paper entitled Embedding the Customer formed part of the internal process of Departmental policy formulation and is not appropriate for publication. The role of Customer Insight is covered in the Service Transformation Agreement published in October 2007 and is available in the Library.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) press and  (b) communications officers his Department employed in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not have a communication officer grade or job-title. The 'White Book' of contacts in Government Departments and agencies contains lists of press officers in the Department and is updated twice yearly. Some officers in directorates other than Communications have some media, press or communications liaison responsibility but this is not recorded in a consistent or economically retrievable form. Figures given as follows are for Communications Directorate alone. Figures for 2003-04 and before are estimates. Figures are given for complete financial years (1 April to 31 March). Some staff work part-time.
	
		
			  Number of press officers, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  Year  Number of staff 
			 2006-07 26 
			 2005-06 30 
			 2004-05 30 
			 2003-04 26 
			 2002-03 24 
			 2001-02 22 
			 2000-01 22 
			 1999-2000 21 
			 1998-99 15 
			 1997-98 15

Departmental Reports

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on commissioning reports from non-Departmental sources  (a) based in the UK and  (b) based overseas in each year since 1997; and what the (i) title, (ii) terms of reference and (iii) purpose was of the reports.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sustainable Development

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department met the target in the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate to reverse the then upward trend in carbon emissions by April 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: We have, between 1999 and 2006, reduced the carbon emissions from the Departmental estate by 15 per cent. The figure for 2006-07 will be published shortly in the 2007 Sustainable Development in Government report.
	 Note:
	This figure reflects that published in the 2006 Sustainable Development in Government report. The Departmental estate includes the Department's London administrative estate, and buildings occupied by NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. Where the Department is a minor occupier in buildings also occupied by other Government Departments, this is not counted as part of the Departmental estate.

Emergency Calls

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of calls to the 999 emergency services number were requests for an ambulance in the most recent year for which figures are available  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect the total number of all 999 calls across emergency services. However, in 2006-07 there were 6.33 million emergency calls reported by ambulance trusts across England.
	Information broken down by trust is available in the latest statistical bulletin, Ambulance Services, England, 2006-07 was published in June 2007 and is available in the Library and on the Information Centre for health and social care website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/ambulanceserv06/Final%20Ambulance%20Services%202006-07.pdf

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS charged non-EU patients who were not permitted free health care in each year since the inception of charging; and what sums are outstanding.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to provide the information requested. Successive governments have not required the national health service to provide statistics on the number of foreign nationals seen, treated or charged under the provisions of the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended, nor any costs involved.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what stage in a patient's treatment in an NHS hospital identification is requested; and in the case of non-EU residents, at what point  (a) it is established that they are required to pay for their treatment and  (b) they are informed of the total amount payable.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended, place a legal obligation on providers of NHS hospital services to establish whether patients are ordinarily resident in the UK and, if not, whether they are exempt from charges under the provisions of the regulations or liable to pay for any treatment provided. The Department of Health has provided comprehensive guidance on implementation of the charging regulations to help NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts to discharge their obligations under these regulations.
	All patients attending hospital for the first time in a course of treatment should be asked specific residency questions. Depending on the answers, the patient may be referred to the hospital's overseas visitors manager for further inquiries to be made. This should be done as soon as is reasonably practicable, taking into account the patient's medical condition. Where it is established that the patient is a chargeable overseas visitor, they should be informed as soon as possible of the estimated cost of the treatment being sought. In the case of routine elective treatment, guidance recommends that a deposit equivalent to that estimated cost should be obtained before treatment begins. However, immediate necessary treatment required to preserve life or to prevent a condition from becoming life-threatening, should be provided without delay, with issues around charging and payment dealt with once the patient has been stabilised.

Hospital Wards: Gender

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has given to NHS mental health trusts on the use of mixed sex wards;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued on privacy and dignity of patients in NHS mental health accommodation.

Ivan Lewis: The guidance issued on 1 June 2000, Safety, privacy and dignity in mental health units: guidance on mixed sex accommodation for mental health services, outlines the practical steps that staff should take to ensure the safety, privacy and dignity of those who are mentally ill. Additionally, it contains specific guidance on the design of mental health units, which can be a significant factor in maintaining privacy for vulnerable people.
	The 2007-08 NHS Operating Framework for England, published in 2006, states that primary care trusts (PCTs) should ensure local implementation of the commitment to reduce mixed-sex accommodation and maximise privacy and dignity in situations where the need to treat and admit takes precedence over complete segregation1. The 2008-09 Operating Framework, published on 13 December 2007, calls on PCTs to work with all trusts to agree, publish and implement stretching local plans for improvement.
	Also, in December 2007 the Institute for Innovation and Improvement published Privacy and Dignity: the elimination of mixed sex accommodation which states:
	'In mental health services additional issues should be considered with respect to gender separation. The nature of mental health care is such that ward environments need to be safe and homely. Service users may stay for many months or years in some units. In order to promote privacy, dignity and safety appropriate polices, procedures training and clinical supervision'.
	On 15 August 2007, we announced that the 'Dignity in Care' campaign would be extended to cover mental health services. The campaign has proved successful in raising awareness of dignity in care and driving forward improvements in the way in which people are treated.
	In order to promote privacy and dignity, staff vigilance underpinned by appropriate policies, procedures and training are as important as the physical environment. This is reflected in the core standards measured by the Healthcare Commission as part of the annual health check with which all trusts need to comply. This checklist will assist trusts to demonstrate their compliance with a number of standards, in particular that healthcare organisations have systems in place to ensure that staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to the publication of the Cancer Reform Strategy, what the timetable is for introducing the national vaccination programme for young girls against the human papilloma virus; when he plans to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme; and by what means.

Dawn Primarolo: Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine will be introduced for girls aged 12 to 13 years of age, starting from September 2008. A two year catch-up campaign will commence in autumn 2009 for girls up to 18 years of age.
	Vaccine uptake will be monitored during the programme, and plans to measure the incidence of HPV infection in the vaccinated age groups are currently being considered. In the first few years of the programme, studies will be carried out to test a sample women for HPV deoxyribonucleic acid and antibodies, and to monitor the reduction in HPV infections. The impact of the programme will be seen when the vaccinated girls reach the age at which cervical screening starts as this is when a reduction in abnormal screening results will begin to be seen.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what clinical advice was sought by his Commercial Directorate in drawing up their proposals for urology and stoma products and services;
	(2)  what discussions his Commercial Directorate has had on their proposals for urology and stoma products and services with officials in the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who use urology or stoma products;
	(4)  if he will seek a regulatory impact assessment before he makes final decisions concerning his Department's Commercial Directorate proposals in respect of urology and stoma services.

Dawn Primarolo: The proposals relating to service have been informed by feedback from providers, specialist healthcare professionals and patients. Specialist healthcare professionals have advised the Department of the proposed classification relating to items.
	As part of the review, the Department has held meetings with the Department for Trade and Industry (now the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform).
	The Department estimates that about 450,000 people use stoma or incontinence items. Some will use them intermittently but the majority will be dependent on them.
	Two partial regulatory impact assessments have already been published as part of this review; the first in October 2005 and the second in November 2006. An impact assessment will be published before any decisions are made and interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on this.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2008,  Official Report, column 595W, on influenza, what non-scientific considerations are taken into account when deciding on the stockpile levels of treatments to be purchased;
	(2)  when he plans to produce guidance on the eligibility of staff for vaccination against A/H5N1 based on a clinical assessment of the staff groups which may be at risk, as stated in paragraph 3.28, page 28, of his Department's document Pandemic influenza: human resources guidance for the NHS, published on 21 November 2007;
	(3)  who will receive antiviral treatment in the event of an influenza pandemic should its clinical attack rate be greater than the quantity of antivirals stockpiled; and in what order of priority.

Dawn Primarolo: The size, quantity and content of the stockpile is guided primarily by the policy objective of using antiviral medicines effectively in order to prevent hospitalization and deaths arising from pandemic influenza, and supporting our 'stay at home policy'. To achieve this we are planning to increase our antiviral stockpile from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. This should be enough to ensure treatment for all those that become symptomatic, including in a 'worst case' scenario where the maximum predicted attack rate is reached.
	Safety and patient acceptability is key. All Neuraminidase inhibitors are generally well tolerated by patients but the side effects from amentadine make it less suitable for stockpiling. The form in which the medicine comes is also important; while Oseltamivir is a capsule, Zanamivir has to be administered using an inhalator. The possible development of antiviral resistance also needs to be taken into account. Resistance is known to develop quickly to amantadine, making it unsuitable for stockpiling. We are currently considering stockpiling a second Neuraminadase inhibitor.
	In principle, antiviral medicine treatment will be available for all symptomatic patients from the onset of a pandemic. A move to prioritisation of treatment would only be made if information became available to suggest that demand for antiviral treatment would outstrip supply.
	If the clinical attack rate exceeds the quantity of antivirals stockpiled, access to countermeasures will be based on the need to:
	Reduce serious illness and deaths; and
	Reduce transmission and spread.
	Final decisions can only be made once we know what the clinical impact of the pandemic is.
	As for the use of our existing stock of pre-pandemic vaccine, the Government has a stockpile of 3.3 million doses of H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine for health care workers. However, the Human Resources guidance for the national health service is still being consulted on. Final guidance detailing the eligibility of staff for A/H5N1 based upon clinical assessment of staff who may be at risk will not be available until after the responses received during the consultation are collated and analysed.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS staff who will not attend work due to fear of infection in an influenza pandemic, as referred to in paragraph 3.9 of his Department's document Pandemic influenza: human resources guidance for the NHS, published on 21 November 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department recognises that although some staff may be concerned, national health service staff have a very high level of commitment to caring for patients.
	The Department therefore expects the number to be low and continues to work to ensure appropriate countermeasures and information are in place to protect staff during an influenza pandemic.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the proportion of patients in each risk group who have received seasonal influenza immunisation for the 2007-08 winter.

Dawn Primarolo: The collection of seasonal influenza uptake data for this winter ended on 31 January, and final uptake data for the 2007-08 seasonal influenza campaign is not expected to be available until around the end of February 2008.

Injuries: Dogs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) adults and  (b) children were admitted to accident and emergency departments in England as a result of dog attacks in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital trust.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not available in the format requested. The following tables show the count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) where the external cause code is W54 (bitten or struck by dog) for the strategic health authority (SHA) of treatment, for adults and children admitted to hospital through accident and emergency, over the last five years. A direct comparison is not possible before and after 2006 when the SHAs were restructure, which is why there are two separate tables.
	
		
			   2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			  SHA of treatment  Under 18  18 and over  Under 18  18 and over  Under 18  18 and over  Under 18  18 and over 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 31 99 39 78 46 92 23 66 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 31 65 30 59 44 67 36 54 
			 Essex SHA 30 75 37 61 26 59 28 54 
			 North West London SHA 11 52 19 29 * 37 19 29 
			 North Central London SHA 13 35 7 21 8 17 11 23 
			 North East London SHA 26 25 24 30 13 33 12 9 
			 South East London SHA 22 34 19 40 9 36 * 43 
			 South West London SHA 22 41 18 31 21 31 16 44 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 61 107 43 81 45 98 41 60 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 70 99 62 97 66 97 65 85 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 29 58 42 59 40 49 30 60 
			 West Yorkshire SHA 95 180 78 130 76 91 88 95 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 51 65 42 64 39 60 51 42 
			 Greater Manchester SHA 68 142 52 87 49 82 64 75 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 132 195 123 155 107 122 101 121 
			 Thames Valley SHA 38 104 43 101 41 97 44 79 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 29 48 25 34 23 31 37 29 
			 Kent and Medway SHA 10 56 15 38 20 39 60 85 
			 Surrey and Sussex SHA 73 113 73 100 61 88 41 48 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 54 123 57 101 46 100 44 66 
			 South West Peninsula SHA 22 75 34 59 30 59 22 60 
			 Dorset and Somerset SHA 14 29 14 28 18 20 20 23 
			 South Yorkshire SHA 42 62 36 73 33 69 39 76 
			 Trent SHA 47 108 75 83 62 61 80 81 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 35 40 27 34 32 36 13 * 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 42 56 35 64 27 61 19 52 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country SHA 65 140 57 112 45 79 42 83 
			 West Midlands South SHA 24 55 24 45 25 35 20 44 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07 
			  SHA of treatment  Under 18  18 and over 
			 North East SHA 130 209 
			 North West SHA 241 426 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 168 353 
			 East Midlands SHA 95 169 
			 West Midlands SHA 146 261 
			 East Of England SHA 106 229 
			 London SHA 127 242 
			 South East Coast SHA 94 190 
			 South Central SHA 75 165 
			 South West SHA 95 266 
			  Notes: 1. FAE A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 
			 2. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 national health service trusts, and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  3. Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).  4. Low numbers: Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with *(an asterisk).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care

Mental Health Services

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the provisions of the Mental Health Act 2007 on independent mental health advocacy will be implemented;
	(2)  what interim safeguards plans to put in place for people detained in hospital or placed under supervised community treatment if the provisions in the Mental Health Act 2007 regarding independent mental health advocacy are implemented after the implementation of other provisions in the Act;
	(3)  how much funding has been allocated in each of the next three years to the implementation and delivery of independent mental health advocacy under the Mental Health Act 2007;
	(4)  what work is  (a) underway and  (b) planned to create good practice guidance for the delivery of independent mental health advocacy to people on supervised community treatment under the Mental Health Act 2007;
	(5)  what measures are  (a) being developed and  (b) in place for the commissioning of independent mental health advocacy.

Ivan Lewis: We aim to implement the provisions of the Mental Health Act in respect of independent mental health advocacy from April 2009. The range of safeguards under the 1983 and 2007 Mental Health Acts will be in place to provide a modernised legislative framework within which compulsory measures can be taken, when necessary, to ensure that people with mental disorders receive the treatment they require. Advocacy support is already available in a number of areas and statutory provision will strengthen this situation.
	We are committed to funding independent mental health advocacy but as priorities for additional funding from 2009-10 have not yet been finalised we cannot yet confirm the exact amounts.
	Good practice guidance for the delivery of independent mental health advocacy, including those on supervised community treatment, and guidance for commissioners are being developed and will be published later in 2008.

Mercury: Health Hazards

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research on the link between  (a) the mercury content of amalgams and  (b) the thiomersal content of some inoculations and progressive neurodegenerative diseases.

Dawn Primarolo: Mercury amalgam has been in use for over 150 years to restore teeth in millions of patients and, apart from rare instances of hypersensitivity, no adverse reactions have been identified.
	Recent reports from the European Union's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks and the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks are available at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/scenihr_cons_07_en.htm
	and
	http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04__scher/scher_cons_02_en.htm
	support the United Kingdom Government's view that there is currently no need for regulation on mercury amalgam. The Government monitor compliance with provisions in the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 for the safe disposal of amalgam waste and research conducted on alternative restorative materials.
	The vaccines used in the UK routine childhood immunisation programme do not contain thiomersal.
	The Department has funded studies into the thiomersal content in vaccines and has found no link between vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. One such study was Thiomersal exposure in infants and developmental disorders: A prospective Cohort Study in the United Kingdom does not support a causal association, Jon Heron, Jean Golding and the ALSPAC Study Team Paediatrics 2004; 114; 577-583.
	As with all medicinal products, vaccine safety is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM). The CHM and its Expert Advisory Groups have thoroughly reviewed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines. The advice of CHM/MHRA remains that there is no evidence of harm from the very small quantities of thiomersal contained in some vaccines, with the exception of possible allergic reactions (typically skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection). This view concurs with that of the World Health Organization, the United States Institute of Medicine and the European Medicines Agency.

NHS: Buildings

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the NHS estate repair backlog.

Ben Bradshaw: Overall capital expenditure by the national health service has increased from around 1.1 billion in 1997-98 to around 5.5 billion in 2007-08. These record levels of investment mean that a quarter of the estate occupied by NHS trusts has been replaced since 1997 and the proportion of the estate that predates the establishment of the NHS itself has fallen from 50 per cent. in 1997-98 to 20 per cent. today.
	NHS investment to reduce backlog maintenance will be prioritised locally based on risk assessment, reconfiguration planning and available resources. The latest figures, provided by trusts themselves indicate that the total backlog maintenance for the NHS was 3.7 billion in 2006-07. While levels of backlog maintenance vary across the NHS, it is estimated that around 75 per cent. of the total is concentrated in 20 per cent. of organisations.
	The majority of backlog relates to low priority work which trusts will undertake through maintenance programmes. Where higher risks are present, work will be undertaken as a priority.

NHS: Finance

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many primary care trusts transferred NHS funds to local authorities in the last 12 months; and what the value of those transfers was;
	(2)  what restrictions there are on how NHS funds transferred to local authorities can be spent.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the number of primary care trusts (PCTs) transferring grants, and value of those transfers to local authorities for the year ended 31 March 2007. No other information about the transfer of funds to local authorities (LAs) is collected centrally.
	
		
			  Type of grant  Value ( million)  Number of PCTs transferring funds in 2006-07 
			 Revenue grants to fund capital projects(1) 71.3 79 
			 Revenue Grants to fund revenue projects(2) 206.2 33 
			  Sources: (1) Department of Health audited PCT accounts 2006-07. (2) Department of Health forecast outturn month 12 national health service financial returns. 
		
	
	PCTs may make payments to LAs as a contribution towards expenditure by the LA on certain community services, including social services and certain health related services specified in legislation. These payments are made under section 256 of the National Health Service Act 2006, which re-enacted earlier legislation.
	Payments may also be made to LAs under partnership arrangements. Under section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 the Secretary of State may prescribe arrangements as to the making of payments by an NHS body to a LA in connection with arrangements for exercise of the NHS functions. The arrangements that may be made are specified in the NHS Bodies and Local Authorities Partnership Arrangements Regulations 2000.

NHS: Fire Extinguishers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of NHS hospitals are equipped with sprinkler systems;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has produced on the use of sprinkler systems in  (a) hospitals and  (b) other NHS buildings.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the number of national health service hospitals equipped with sprinkler systems is not collected centrally.
	The Department publishes guidance on fire safety for the NHS in England in the Firecode suite of documents. This requires that all NHS organisations in England comply with legislation relating to fire safety. The guidance it contains about the installation of sprinklers in health care buildings is consistent with the policy of the Chief Fire Officers' Association.
	While the Firecode guidance does not specifically require the installation of sprinkler systems in patient care areas of health care buildings, it does make it clear that the design team is expected to consider the advantages that might be gained by installing sprinklers throughout the building. Firecode does however recommend that auto-suppression systems (which can include sprinkler systems) should be installed in clearly defined high fire risk or high fire load areas that are located adjacent to patient accommodation.

Skin Cancer

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what issues the SunSmart campaign will be spending resources in the summer of 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: The SunSmart programme for 2008 is currently under discussion with key stakeholders including the UK Skin Cancer Working Party on which the Department is represented. The programme will be confirmed in due course.

Developing Countries: Energy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken to assist developing countries to modernise their energy sectors in the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: At the Gleneagles summit in 2005, the UK secured G8 agreement that the World Bank should lead on establishing a new Clean Energy Investment Framework (CEIF) to support global action to tackle climate change. The framework will increase public and private sector investments in three areas, one of which is access to modern energy services in developing countries. The UK has committed 15 million to the CEIF so far.
	Separately, the UK has established an 800 million international window of the UK Environment Trust Fund (ETF-IW) to reduce poverty through action on climate change. We are exploring how best to use this money to stimulate a step change in international financing for climate change. An important element will be to support developing countries adopt low carbon development paths, including the modernisation of their energy sectors.
	DFID supports other international efforts to improve the provision of affordable energy in developing countries, such as the Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP), the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI) and the Energy Sector Management Assistance programme (ESMAP). DFID has committed 4 million (2007-11) to GVEP, 3.8 million (2005-08) to ESMAP and 600 000 to the EUEI since 2004.

Sierra Leone

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government have taken to assist Sierra Leone in developing its economy in the last five years.

Gillian Merron: In the immediate post-conflict period, UK Government's strategy in Sierra Leone focussed on establishing peace and security, ensuring macroeconomic stability and re-building state institutions. The aim was to create the overall framework of stability and rule of law that was necessary for economic development to take hold. This strategy was complemented by specific economic programmes to support investment by removing many of the administrative barriers and improving governance in the mining sector. DFID has spent approximately 164 million over the last five years.
	Currently the DFID Sierra Leone office is managing a 10 million portfolio of multi-year interventions to stimulate growth in the private sector, as well as a recently agreed 20 million programme to support the energy sector, and a 16 million programme to modernise tax administration, reducing costs of compliance for businesses.

South Africa: HIV Infection

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of progress in tackling HIV/AIDS in South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: South Africa has the highest burden of HIV and AIDS in the world. Over 5.5 million people are infected, and it is estimated that in 2007 over one sixth of the world's population with HIV live in South Africa. Recent data from antenatal clinics suggest a modest decline in prevalence rates: in 2006 29 per cent. of all pregnant women had HIV, down from 30 per cent. in 2005. However, the UNAIDS Global update states that there is no evidence of a decrease in HIV among young South Africans.
	Over the past year there has been renewed optimism that South Africa is beginning to scale up efforts to tackle HIV and AIDS. On 3 May the South African Cabinet approved a new national strategic plan for AIDS, with interim targets that put South Africa on track to achieve universal access by 2011. The plan is overseen by a re-vitalised South African National AIDS Council which brings together all government departments and 17 civil society sectors, including people living with HIV and AIDS, business, researchers, women, faith based organisations and traditional leaders. The UK provided technical assistance, through UNAIDS, to this revitalisation process.
	DFID has also directly supported India (28.5 million, 2002-10), Bangladesh (up to 50 million, 2005-10), and Iraq (about 21 million since 2003) to upgrade their energy sectors. We have recently committed 20 million to help Sierra Leone (2008-13).
	We spent approximately 1.75 million during the last five years on energy research to help developing countries address energy sector challenges and have committed a further 3.75 million (2007-12) to look at the contribution bio-energy can make to poverty reduction in Africa. We are planning to develop an additional research programme to look at energy policy options for developing countries as they consider what action is needed to tackle climate change.

Connexions Card

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  for what reasons the Youth Opportunity Card pilots were conducted on a timescale shorter than that outlined in his Department's Youth Matters: Next Steps, Something to do, Somewhere to go, Someone to Talk to; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many pilots of the Youth Opportunity Card took place; how many cards were issued under those pilots; what the total cost of the pilots was; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 4 February 2008
	In February 2007 we took the decision not to proceed with the Youth Opportunity Card pilots and therefore no cards were issued. For details on the reasons for this and the cost of the card project, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 945W, to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban).

Pupils

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps the Government have taken to improve the emotional well-being of school children since 1997;
	(2)  what support the Government provide to schools for children with mental health problems.

Jim Knight: holding answer 4 February 2008
	A variety of work has been developed to improve the emotional wellbeing and mental health of school children. The National Healthy Schools programme which has existed since 1999 promotes a whole school approach to both physical and emotional health, and one of its core themes is emotional health and wellbeing. To achieve national healthy school status, schools now need to satisfy the criteria for all four core themes and last year new guidance was issued on promoting emotional health and wellbeing to support work in this area. Currently 95 per cent. of schools have joined the National Healthy Schools programme and 55 per cent. are meeting the new standards.
	The National Framework for Children and Young People and Maternity Services (NSF), published in 2004, set out a 10-year programme of improvements for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). In support of this, grant funding to local authorities for CAMHS has increased from 10 million in 1999-2000 to 91 million in each financial year from 2003-04 to 2007-08 to strengthen the provision of targeted mental health services for children and adolescents. We also announced plans in 2007 for an independent review of CAMHS.
	The Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme was created to develop all children and young people' social and emotional skills at school, which help to underpin emotional wellbeing, and it was made available to primary schools in 2005. Approximately 60 per cent. of primary schools have voluntarily adopted SEAL, and 15 to 20 per cent. of secondary schools are expected to start implementing it by July 2008.
	In 2007 we announced that we will invest an additional 60 million over three years to support schools to work with mental health practitioners and others to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of pupils.

Special Educational Needs: Somerset

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the special educational needs budget is for Somerset county council in 2007-08; how much of the budget is allocated to each category of special educational needs; and how much is allocated for  (a) the employment of staff and  (b) other expenditure.

Kevin Brennan: The information for Somerset local authority about what the budget is for special educational needs is as follows:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs( 1,)( )( 2) , 2007-08( 3,)( )( 4) 
			
			 Somerset local authority 40,845,000 
			 (1) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools. 
			 (2) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN. In addition to the planned expenditure in the table, Somerset LA also budgeted 3.3 million for SEN transport expenditure during 2007-08. (3) 2007-08 data are subject to change by the local authority. (4) Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding.  Notes: 1. Cash terms figures as reported by Somerset local authority as at 29 January 2008. 2. The data are drawn from Somerset local authority's 2007-08 Section 52 Budget Statements (Tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DCSF (formally the DfES). 
		
	
	 (a) and 4The Department does not collect separate figures on how much is allocated for the employment of staff and other expenditure.

Young People: Transport

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department has taken to encourage sharing good practice in the provision of transport for young people since his Department published, Youth matters: next steps, in March 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: As a result of Youth Matters: Next Steps, the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a duty on local authorities to secure young people's access to positive activities. To do so local authorities will need to identify and address barriers to access, including, where applicable and practicable, issues associated with the provision of transport. There are a number of ways in which local authorities can tackle transport barriers, including using subsidy and involving young people in local transport planning.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families signalled its further commitment to improving transport for young people taking part in positive activities through Aiming High for Young People: a ten year strategy for positive activities published in July 2007. The strategy contains a commitment to improve existing guidance, support and challenge to children's trusts and transport planners to encourage joined up planning and commissioning of transport for the benefit of young people.
	DCSF is working with Department for Transport colleagues to develop plans to implement this commitment.
	In Bedfordshire, 50,000 of Youth Opportunity Fund money is supporting a transport scheme to help young people in rural areas access activities. In Nottingham, the DCSF is supporting the city council in a pilot which will give economically disadvantaged young people the equivalent of 20 a month free public transport to help them access positive activities.

Offenders: Sentencing

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders who were given custodial sentences for driving offences served concurrent driving bans as part of their sentence in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Although the court proceedings data held by my Department provide information on the sentencing of individuals for individual offences, including whether they are disqualified from driving as a result of those offences, they does not hold information on whether each person is already banned from driving when sentence is passed.

Offenders: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders who come from Wales are in prison; and how many are the subject of community penalties.

David Hanson: Data for September 2007 shows that there were approximately 3,800 male and female prisoners with a home area of Wales in custody in prisons in England and Wales. Where no home address is listed for a prisoner the committal court is used as a proxy address.
	At the end of September 2007 there were 9,286 offenders being supervised by the Probation Service in Wales under all court orders. Information on how many offenders under court order supervision originally came from Wales is not recorded centrally.

Prisoner Escapes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) escapes and  (b) unapproved absences there were from prisons in England in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The number of escapes and incidents of unapproved absences over the last five years from prisons in England is shown in the following table. The figures shown for prisoners breaching the terms of their temporary release licence may include prisoners whose breach of licence conditions has not been considered serious enough to recall them. While the latter are not unapproved absences it is not possible to distinguish this type of licence breach without examining every incident report which would incur disproportionate cost.
	Data on escapes, absconds and temporary release licence failures is published for all prisons at the following link:
	http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/abouttheservice/prisonperformance/performancestatistics/
	
		
			  Number of escapes and incidents of unapproved absences over the last five years from prisons in England 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Escapes prisons 4 9 12 3 2 
			 Escapes prison escorts 12 6 8 8 6 
			 Escapes prison escort contractors(1) 33 33 28 17 19 
			 Absconds(2) 942 1,275 858 700 546 
			 (1) Figures for escapes from Prison Escort Contractors include the four Welsh prisons that are not run as a separate contract and cannot be disaggregated from the overall totals. (2) Absconds are instances where a prisoner absents himself from prison custody without lawful authority and without overcoming physical security restraints usually from open prisons.

Procurement

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 171W, on procurement, if he will list each division in his Department.

Maria Eagle: Divisions within the Ministry of Justice' Headquarters and it's agencies as at 31 December 2007 are in the following tables. The Prison Service is a next steps agency and as such does not have divisions.
	 Ministry of Justice' Headquarters Divisions
	CFO Operations
	Commercial Group
	Communications Dir
	Constitutional Directorate
	Corporate Management Directorate
	DG Administration
	Disc Transition
	Effective Trial Management Programme
	Equality and Diversity Unit
	Facilities Management
	Finance and Control
	DIV-HMICA
	HR Business Partner
	HR Corporate Policy
	HR People Services
	HR Specialist Services
	I and B Operations
	IT Business Partners
	Judicial Policy Dir
	Judicial Appointments Commission
	Judicial Delivery Directorate
	Judicial Group
	Judicial Office of England and Wales
	Judicial Studies Board
	Legal Aid Strategy Directorate
	Legal Directorate
	Legal Services Directorate
	OSPT Operations
	Private Office and Central Strategic Unit
	Projects and Programme
	Resources
	Service and Supplier Man
	Strategy and Compliance
	Strategy Directorate
	Supreme Court Implementation Team
	 Ministry of Justices' Agencies: H er M ajesty's Courts Service Divisions
	Cust Serv and Comms
	Accounts Collection Back Office
	Area Enforcement Office
	Avon and Somerset
	Avon and Somerset Crn
	Avon and Somerset Cty
	Avon and Somerset Mag
	Bedfordshire
	Bedfordshire Crn
	Bedfordshire Cty
	Bedfordshire Mag
	Black Country, Staffs and West Mercia Area Office
	Black Country, Staffs and West Mercia Crn
	Black Country, Staffs and West Mercia Cty
	Black Country, Staffs and West Mercia Nag
	Cambridgeshire Com
	Cambridgeshire Crn
	Cambridgeshire Cty
	Cambridgeshire Mag
	Central and South London Area Office
	Central and South London Crn
	Central and South London Mag
	DIV-Cheshire
	Cheshire and Merseyside Area Office
	Cheshire Com
	Cheshire Crn
	Cheshire Cty
	Cheshire Mag
	Civil and Fam Civil Just
	Civil and Fam Cust Serv
	Civil and Fam Family Just
	Civil and Fam Plan and Prog
	Civil and Family London Area Office
	Civil and Family London Cty
	Civil and Family London Family Court Centres
	Civil Appeals Office
	Civil Justice Council
	Cleveland
	Cleveland Crn
	Cleveland Cty
	Cleveland Mag
	Community Justice
	Criminal Justice Delivery
	Crime Support Regional Office London
	Cumbria Area Office
	Cumbria Crn
	Cumbria Cty
	Cumbria Mag
	Devon and Cornwall
	Devon and Cornwall Crn
	Devon and Cornwall Cty
	Devon and Cornwall Mag
	Director of Perf
	Dorset
	Dorset Crn
	Dorset Cty
	Dorset Mag
	Durham
	Durham Crn
	Durham Cty
	Durham Mag
	Enforcement Prog
	Essex
	Essex Crn
	Essex Cty
	Essex Mag
	Family
	Family Justice Council
	Finance Support Regional Office London
	Gloucestershire
	Gloucestershire Crn
	Gloucestershire Cty
	Gloucestershire Mag
	Greater Manchester Cty
	Gtr Manchester
	Gtr Manchester Crn
	Gtr Manchester Mag
	Hampshire and IOW
	Hampshire and IOWCrn
	Hampshire and IOW Cty
	Hampshire and IOW Mag
	Hertfordshire
	Hertfordshire Crn
	Hertfordshire Cty
	Hertfordshire Mag
	High Court Group HMCS CEO
	HMCS Change Programme
	HMCS Estates HQ
	Humberside
	Humberside Crn
	Humberside Cty
	Humberside Mag
	Kent
	Kent Crn
	Kent Cty
	Kent Mag
	Lancashire
	Lancashire Crn
	Lancashire Cty
	Lancashire Mag
	Law Commission
	Leics, Lincs and Northamptonshire Office
	Leics, Lincs and Northamptonshire Crn
	Leics, Lincs and Northamptonshire Cty
	Leics, Lines and Northamptonshire Mag
	Merseyside Crn
	Merseyside Cty
	Merseyside Mag
	Mid and West Wales Area Office
	Mid and West Wales Crn
	Mid and West Wales Cty
	Mid and West Wales Mag
	Midlands Confiscation Teams
	Midlands Enforcement Teams
	Midlands Enforcements - Director's Office
	Midlands Fixed Penalty Office
	Midlands Netting-off Teams
	Midlands Reg Office
	Midlands SCP Teams
	Mids Jud Lodgings
	MIS Perf Div
	National Taxing Teams
	NE Jud Lodgings
	Norfolk
	Norfolk Crn
	Norfolk Cty
	Norfolk Mag
	North and West London Area Office
	North and West London Crn
	North and West London Mag
	North East Reg Office
	North Wales Area Office
	North Wales Crn
	North Wales Cty
	North Wales Mag
	North West Reg Office
	North Yorkshire
	North Yorkshire Crn
	North Yorkshire Cty
	North Yorkshire Mag
	Northumbria
	Northumbria Crn
	Northumbria Cty
	Northumbria Mag
	Notts and Derbyshire Area Office
	Notts and Derbyshire Crn
	Notts andDerbyshire Cty
	Notts and Derbyshire Mag
	NW Jud Lodgings
	Office Judge Advocate Gen
	Pert Imp Div
	Probate
	RCJ Civil
	RCJ Crown
	Regional Office London
	Resources Core Activities
	Resources Project Activities
	SE Jud Lodgings
	SE Reg Office
	South East Wales Area Office
	South East Wales Crn
	South East Wales Cty
	South East Wales Mag
	South Yorkshire
	South Yorkshire Crn
	South Yorkshire Cty
	South Yorkshire Mag
	Strategy and Business Support
	Regional Office London
	Suffolk
	Suffolk Com
	Suffolk Crn
	Suffolk Cty
	DIV-Suffolk Mag
	Supreme Court Office
	Surrey
	Surrey Crn
	Surrey Cty
	Surrey Mag
	Sussex
	Sussex Crn
	Sussex Cty
	Sussex Family
	Sussex Mag
	SW Jud Lodgings
	SW Reg Office
	Thames Valley
	Thames Valley Crn
	Thames Valley Cty
	Thames Valley Mag
	W and C Jud Lodgings
	Wales Regional Office
	Warks and West Midlands Area Office
	Warks and West Midlands Crn
	Warks and West Midlands Cty
	Warks and West Midlands Mag
	West Yorkshire
	West Yorkshire Crn
	West Yorkshire Cty
	West Yorkshire Mag
	Wiltshire
	Wiltshire Crn
	Wiltshire Cty
	Wiltshire Mag
	 Ministry o f Justices' Agencies : Office of the Public Guardian Divisions
	OPG Applications and Processing
	OPG Contact Centre
	OPG Court
	OPG Finance and Resources
	OPG Performance and Change
	OPG Supervision
	 Ministry Of Justices' Agencies Scotland Office and Offices of Advocate General Divisions
	Scotland Office
	 Ministry Of Justices' Agencies Wales Office Divisions
	Wales Office
	 Ministry o f Justices' Agencies Tribunals Service Divisions
	AIT Ldn Central Hearing Centres
	AIT Ldn Mid and West Hearing Centres
	AIT Ops Support Centres
	AIT Scot and North Hearing Centres
	AIT Support Function
	AS Birmingham Business Devel
	AS Birmingham Region
	AS Cardiff Region AS Flowers Hill Finance
	AS Fox Court Business Devel
	AS Glasgow Region
	AS Leeds Region
	AS Liverpool Region
	AS Management
	AS Newcastle Region
	AS Nottingham Region
	AS Sutton Region
	Asylum Support Adjudicators
	Care Standards
	Deputy CE and design authority
	EAT
	ETS London and SE
	ETS North, Wales and Scotland
	ETS Support Services
	ETS SW, Yorks and Mids
	Gambling Appeals Trib
	Gen Comms of Income Tax
	HQ Operations AS
	TG Criminal Injuries Tribs
	TG Leicester Tribs
	TG London Tribs
	TG Mental Health Tribs
	TG SEN and Disability Tribs
	TG Tribunals Accom
	Tribs Group Management
	DIV-TS CEO and Seer
	TS Customer Strategy
	TS Customer Strategy and Communications
	TS Development and Legislation
	TS Estates
	TS Finance and Resources
	TS Performance and Planning
	TS Prog and Projects Office
	TS Snr Pres and Seer
	 Ministry Of Justices' Agencies National Offender Management Service Divisions
	Altcourse Controllers Office - 0160  613001
	Ashfield Controllers Office - 0160  613002
	Assisted Prison Visits - 0160  605301
	Associated Environment - 0164  671112
	Basic Skills-0164-671211
	Bronzefield Controllers Office - 0160 - 613003
	Business Development Unit  0164 -653000
	C NOMIS Management and Support - 0160  604601
	Chaplaincy (HO) - 0160-607100
	Comm and Comps Unit - 0160  612000
	Comm and Cont Prog Unit - 0160  603500
	Community Integration - 0160  605200
	Community Integration - 0160  605200
	Community Reintegration - 0164 - 671212
	Correctional Services Bill Team - 0160 - 601400
	Criminal Justice Bill Team - 0160  601800
	Criminal Law Policy Unit - 0160  601600
	Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorders - 0160 1605000
	Director of Probation's Office - 0164  650000
	Directors Office NOMS Finance - 0160  610000
	Directors Office NOMS Policy - 0160  601200
	Directors Office NOMS Strategy - 0160  602400
	Directors Office OIS - 0160  604200
	Diversity - 0164-674400
	Doncaster Controllers Office - 0160  613004
	Dovegate Controllers Office - 0160  613005
	Drugs and Alcohol - 0164  671320
	DSU Drug Treat and Alcohol - 0160 - 607902
	DSU Planning and Min Brief - 0160 - 607901
	DSU Strat Dev and OGD Liaison - 0160 - 607900
	DSU Supply Reduction - 0160 - 607903
	Electronic Monitoring Team - 0164 - 671410
	Enhanced Community Punishment - 0164 - 671210
	EPDU Head of Unit - 0160  603300
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	OCJR-Victims and Witnesses - 0110 -102001

Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what measures have been taken at Thorn Cross young offenders institute to focus inmates on  (a) addressing offending behaviour,  (b) developing self discipline,  (c) contributing positively to the community and  (d) developing vocational skills among (i) juvenile inmates and (ii) inmates above the age of 18.

David Hanson: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) In addressing offending behaviour Thorn Cross offers a number of offending behaviour courses for young adults, including Enhanced Thinking Skills and the Short Duration Drugs Programme.
	 (b) In developing selfdiscipline Thorn Cross takes a structured approach to ensure good behaviour. Bad behaviour is minimal, and emphasis is given to taking individual responsibility. Credit is given to those demonstrating a responsible approach.
	 (c) In contributing positively to the community, there is significant investment at Thorn Cross. Offenders are engaged positively as part of a restorative justice approach. There is opportunity for involvement in various projects including work with the Warrington Disability Partnership, helping out with local groups as well as hosting an annual event for the WDP.
	 (d) To develop their vocational skills young people and young adults are given equal opportunity to better their life chances through participating in a full-time education and training programme. This allows them to address literacy, numeracy and life skills while also developing new vocational skills such as construction crafts (plastering, plumbing, painting and decorating and bricklaying). There are also opportunities for to train in motor mechanics, horticulture and catering.